A mouthwash is an aqueous solution with therapeutic active agents and certain ingredients that help make your hygiene complete, by effectively reducing oral biofilms and providing maximum freshness after concluding your daily oral hygiene routine.

Dental plaque (oral biofilm) is a bacterial film that is not easily removed from dental surfaces. It has been estimated that at any given time, between 400 and 1,000 species can colonise oral biofilms. Nearly 50 years of experimental research and clinical studies have confirmed that efficient removal of bacterial plaque (oral biofilm) is crucial for dental and periodontal health to exist (Löe 2000).

Maintaining an adequate level of daily oral hygiene is essential in the prevention and control of biofilm-related oral diseases. This has been identified as a critical factor in the aetiology of dental caries, gingivitis and chronic periodontitis (Haps et al., 2008). Although an oral biofilm cannot be completely removed, it can be kept under control with mechanical oral hygiene methods (Versteeg et al., 2010). For this reason, its disruption is necessary in order for teeth and gums to be healthy. Daily toothbrushing with toothpaste containing fluoride and the use of interproximal brushes or dental floss/tape are methods that are frequently recommended for biofilm removal. In many cases, these oral hygiene methods do not effectively control the oral biofilm, due to problems of compliance or lack of user motivation. The elderly, people with braces, and people with physical and/or psychological limitations may find it difficult to carry out effective mechanical toothbrushing. Even those whose oral hygiene method is optimal, may have difficulty removing oral biofilms from hard-to-reach areas, especially in the backmost portions of the oral cavity (Santos et al., 2005).

Pharmacists can help patients choose which mouthwash is the most appropriate in each individual case

Mechanical methods for removing biofilms require time, motivation and manual skills, suggesting that other strategies are also needed for optimal results. This is where “chemical control of plaque” comes into play.

Why a mouthwash?

The use of a mouthwash as an adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene is considered to be very effective in increasing the removal of oral biofilms (Haps et al., 2008).

A mouthwash is an aqueous solution with therapeutic active agents and certain ingredients that help make your hygiene complete, by effectively reducing oral biofilms and providing maximum freshness after concluding your daily oral hygiene routine.

Different types of mouthwashes exist and are specifically formulated to meet the needs of each individual. Mouthwashes can be classified as therapeutic, to treat a specific condition, or preventive.

Pharmacists can help patients choose which mouthwash is the most appropriate for their specific oral conditions (daily care, braces, delicate gums, dental sensitivity, oral halitosis and xerostomia).

In conclusion, the adjunct use of a toothbrush with toothpaste, interproximal cleaning and an effective mouthwash guarantee success in the control and prevention of oral diseases produced by oral biofilms.

References

Löe H. et al. Oral hygiene in the prevention of caries and periodontal disease. International Dental Journal 2000; 50: 129-139. Versteeg PA, Rosema NAM, Hoenderdos NL, Slot DE, Van der Weijden GA.The plaque inhibitory effect of a CPC mouthrinse in a 3-day plaque accumulation model – a cross over study. Int. J. Dent Hygiene 2010; 8: 269–275 Haps S., Slot DE., Berchier CE., Van der Weijden GA. The effect of cetylpyridinium chloride-containing mouth rinses as adjuncts to toothbrushing on plaque and parameters of gingival inflammation: a systematic review. Int. J. Dent. Hygiene 2008; 6: 290-303 Enrile de Rojas FJ, Santos-Alemany A. Protocolo de uso de los colutorios antisépticos. RCOE, 2005, Vol 10, Nº4, 469-471 Enrile de Rojas FJ, Santos-Alemany A. Colutorios para el control de placa y gingivitis basados en la evidencia científica. RCOE, 2005, Vol 10, Nº4, 445-452